Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, told the media that the central government had identified over 800 projects that require around Rs 5.48 lakh crore investment for their implementation under the Sagarmala Programme.
The Sagarmala programme includes projects like modernising existing ports and terminals, new ports, terminals, and tourism jetties, enhancing port connectivity, inland waterways, lighthouse tourism, industrialisation around the port, skill development, and technology centres. The Minister said that the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Smart Industrial Port City at Deendayal Port and Paradip Port and Coastal Employment Unit at V O Chidambaranar Port area are also part of the Sagarmala Programme. Apart from the 14 projects related to the development of new ports with an estimated investment of Rs 1.25 lakh crore are also part of this programme. Sonowal said these projects spread across coastal states and Union Territories (UTs), including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu. He said that the implementation of the projects would be carried out by the State Maritime Boards and other major ports. In Gujarat, two projects related, including bulk terminal and greenfield port at Chhara and CNG Terminal at Bhavnagar Port are part of the Sagarmala Programme, which are being implemented by the Gujarat Maritime Board. Image Source
